In a year of change, it’s been a blast

Donna Donovan

Saturday

Apr 26, 2008 at 12:01 AMApr 26, 2008 at 11:28 PM

It’s been a year since we took down that great big “G” on the side of our building and joined a new company; a year since we severed relationships with the folks who had owned this newspaper since the 1930s; a year since I technically retired, and then re-hired with a new firm. And probably the most fulfilling, absolutely most fun year of my professional life.

A recent round of reference checks for a key position we’re trying to fill had the lovely bonus of putting me in touch with several colleagues from a former life.

Ordinarily, I prefer to avoid long phone calls. I’m not good on the phone; don’t particularly enjoy talking on it, and find myself getting antsy after just a bit. My preference is to open with a cheery hello, offer a few pleasantries, and get down to business. Then hang up, and get back to work.

But these calls went on and on as former co-workers, from when we were owned by a different company, asked eagerly: “So how’s it going?” and pressed for details on our new life, as part of GateHouse Media.

In short: It’s going very well, indeed.

It’s been a year since we took down that great big “G” on the side of our building and joined a new company; a year since we severed relationships with the folks who had owned this newspaper since the 1930s; a year since I technically retired, and then re-hired with a new firm.

And probably the most fulfilling, absolutely most fun year of my professional life.
That’s not a common thread in our industry these days. Woe-is-me seems to be the prevailing sentiment, as newspaper owners across the country struggle with a changing business, deteriorating stock values, and general economic malaise.

Many of the publishers, general managers and editors I spoke with this past week were themselves in limbo. Some are at newspapers actively up for sale. Others asked if I’d heard the rumors they’re likely to be put on the block. Still others are worried that they’ll soon be looking for work, their job the victim of massive consolidations and job-sharing affecting our industry.

I’ve only half-jokingly suggested that our state publishers association host a giant swap meet. We’d rent a huge convention hall and invite the owners of all the newspapers in the United States – some 1,400 dailies in all. We’d post a big map, like the Risk board game.

And then we’d let everyone put all their properties on the table. A company could exchange three small papers for one big paper. Or unload a paper nowhere near their other properties for a cluster of weeklies geographically close to two of their dailies.

At the end of the day, everyone would have neat little clusters that they think would mesh better with their business plan, and everyone could just get back to work.

Of course, I’d recommend that any paper sold in the past year or two be exempt from the program. We’ve been through enough change to last us quite a while. And we have much yet to do, blessed with the investment of our new owners.

This week, we have a team in Minnesota, training on a new circulation system. We’re also reviewing architects’ proposals to explore the possibility of a new production facility. We’re hiring sales representatives, and filling key newsroom positions.

That’s on top of the work done in the past few months to restore whole departments we’d lost under our former owners. We’ve rebuilt the classified call center, circulation customer service, business office, and human resources. In a few weeks, we’ll welcome a new Information Technology manager, who will oversee a newly rebuilt systems department.

Will the fun go on forever? Who knows? But the past year has been a blast. And the fact that I’ve been able to enjoy – essentially – an entirely new job without having to leave the beautiful Mohawk Valley (and its terrific people) has been sweet icing on the cake.

Donna Donovan is president and publisher of the Observer-Dispatch. Contact her at: ddonovan@uticaod.com

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